The early morning mist still hung over the streets of Trivandrum as Aryan stretched in the courtyard, his breath forming faint clouds in the cool air. The city was slowly waking up, but Aryan had been up for hours, immersed in his physical training. The prospect of the upcoming physical fitness tests for the Civil Service Exam drove him forward, but there was something more to his relentless discipline. A feeling that the power within him was stirring again.
Smith emerged from the house, yawning and rubbing his eyes. "You're insane, you know that?" he muttered, pulling his jacket tighter against the morning chill. "Training before sunrise? I thought you were trying to pass the exam, not join the military."
Aryan chuckled, standing tall and rotating his shoulders. "Discipline isn't just about the exam. You know that as well as I do."
Smith rolled his eyes but stepped onto the courtyard mat next to Aryan, mimicking his warm-up movements. "Fine, but if I start seeing muscles like yours, I'm blaming you."
Timmy circled above, his dark feathers glinting faintly in the soft sunlight. The eagle had grown larger, his wingspan more impressive than ever. His jade-tinted head feathers shimmered like polished stone. Jimmy, however, was far from still. The large dog bounded around the courtyard, chasing birds that dared to land too close, his thick fur gleaming in the morning sun.
As Aryan moved through his routine, Jimmy weaved around him, barking playfully and attempting to match Aryan's fluid movements with his own erratic bounds. Aryan laughed as Jimmy nearly tripped Smith by darting between his legs.
"Jimmy! You're not part of the routine," Smith grumbled, barely catching his balance. "I swear he's got more energy than both of us combined."
Aryan crouched down, ruffling Jimmy's fur. "He just wants to be involved. Besides, he's part of the team."
Jimmy wagged his tail enthusiastically, as if understanding every word.
The training routine had become a ritual. Aryan combined movements from kalari, the martial art he had learned during his childhood, with the fluid grace of tai chi and the breath control of yoga. His body moved with precision, muscles rippling as he transitioned between stances. Smith followed along, though his form lacked Aryan's fluidity.
"So, tell me," Smith grunted as he attempted a particularly complex move. "What's the deal with Jimmy and Timmy lately? They've been acting... different."
Aryan glanced at Jimmy, who had perked up at the mention of his name. "I've noticed. Jimmy's senses are sharper. He reacts faster to things I can barely detect. And Timmy… well, I think he's growing into something far beyond an ordinary eagle."
Smith exhaled heavily, transitioning into a push-up position. "Makes sense. We're not exactly ordinary anymore either. Have you tried pushing your abilities during training?"
Aryan hesitated, his gaze drifting toward the edge of the courtyard where a heavy boulder rested. "Sometimes. But I have to be careful. The last time I pushed too hard, the entire courtyard shook. I can't risk drawing attention."
Smith gave him a sideways glance. "Right. We wouldn't want the neighbors thinking you're summoning spirits in the middle of the night."
Aditi stepped out from the house, carrying a steaming cup of tea. She leaned against the doorway, watching them with a bemused expression. "You two are going to destroy this courtyard at some point. You know that, right?"
"We're preparing for greatness, Aditi," Smith shot back with a grin. "Besides, I think you secretly enjoy watching us make fools of ourselves."
Aditi smirked. "Oh, I enjoy it immensely. But don't let that stop you. By the way, Aryan, the water well was acting strange again this morning. Ripples appeared even though there wasn't any wind."
Aryan raised an eyebrow. "You think it's happening again?"
Aditi shrugged but there was a flicker of uncertainty in her eyes. "I don't know. But it's not the first time. I feel like something's changing within me too, but it's subtle."
Aryan considered this quietly. He knew his powers were growing, but perhaps Aditi and Smith were being pulled into the same current of evolving energy. Jimmy, sensing the tension, pressed his head against Aryan's leg, grounding him back in the present.
Later that afternoon, Aryan retreated to the back of the house for his solo training. Smith had left earlier in the day to visit his family for the weekend. Aditi remained at home, managing tasks around the house. Aryan stood before the same boulder he had eyed that morning. He closed his eyes, reaching deep within, searching for the calm center of his power.
The air seemed to hum as Aryan lifted his arms. Slowly, the boulder trembled, rising several feet off the ground. Sweat beaded on Aryan's forehead, but the effort felt less draining than before. The stone hovered for several seconds before Aryan lowered it gently back to the earth.
Jimmy, ever curious, bounded over and sniffed at the boulder, his tail wagging wildly. He barked at it, tilting his head as if expecting it to move again.
Timmy, perched on a nearby branch, tilted his head approvingly. Jimmy, however, playfully jumped up toward Timmy, who took to the skies with a screech of mild annoyance.
As the sun began to set, Aryan heard footsteps approaching. Aditi stepped into the courtyard holding a small bundle of files under her arm. "DGP Aravind sent these over for you," she said, dropping them onto the steps. "Training materials for the academy. Looks like they're pushing you ahead of schedule."
Aryan knelt to pick up the files, flipping through the pages filled with instructions on physical fitness regimens, tactical strategies, and leadership exercises. "I haven't even passed the physical test yet," Aryan muttered.
Aditi sat down beside him. "You know how these things go. Aravind probably sees something in you, like Dad did. They're expecting great things from you, Arya."
Aryan smiled softly, grateful for her confidence. "I guess I'll take the head start."